Zoya was bored. B.O.R.E.D-bored. Aditya had been gayab for about a week, not that she was counting the days or anything, she was just, as she said before, incredibly and mind-numbingly bored. Noor and Arjun had gone away for a while to a place where she could call him daddy freely without fear of confusion or misinterpretation, she was happy for them, of course, but she didn’t really understand how her younger sister didn’t picture Abbu when the words came out her mouth, she supposed it was a positive at least that she hadn’t referred to Arjun as Abbu, now that would be weird.

In order to save herself from death by boredom she’d taken up a new hobby- binge-watching Detective shows, she was practically a pro at this point, there was no mystery she couldn’t solve, no puzzle she couldn’t crack. Shuffling toward the floor to ceiling mirror in the hallway, she admired her red pyjamas with little Devil emojis on, then spun on her heel in a 360 and pointed finger guns at her reflection, put on her best gruff voice and did her best cop impression “You have the right to remain silent, but-“.

“Munchkin, If I would’ve known roleplay was your thing I would’ve come in through the window like a thief in the night and brought my handcuffs with me”.

Spinning to face him, she almost lost her footing, stumbled and blew her cheeks out. Keeping her fingers in place, she warned: “I have a gun” her cheeks heating at the smug smile on his lips. Ignoring the way his muscles flexed against his white shirt due to the way he stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his shoulder resting against the wall, she dropped her gaze.

Raising a brow, he pulled himself off the wall “As a soldier, it wouldn’t be right for me to allow you to progress with a weapon, I’m afraid a body search is necessary” Aditya placed his hands on her hips so she fell into his hold, her hands splaying across his chest to stop herself from falling even more. He couldn’t help but think about the similarity of their physical situation to their emotional one, he would be there to catch her if she fell for him, but her distrust would never allow her to let go and take the leap.

Her breathing quickened, chest rising and falling against his at his words, tipping her head up, she swallowed harshly “But, but you’re off duty”.

“When I’m around you, turning on isn’t the problem” his brows waggled suggestively, “Turning off is”.

Her honey eyes widened “Isn’t there a switch? You know, like a remote, then I could mute you too” her grin widened at the idea.

“I don’t think it’s me we need to worry about muting when I’m done with you, Zoya” he husked, warm, minty breath fanning her face.

Her jaw dropped “Are you saying I’m noisy?” She shoved him away, hair flapping around her as she huffed “I am not noisy” holding a finger up to tell him off some more, she was halted by his index finger wrapping around her own, leaving her with only her foot stomping on the ground as a valid response to his nonsense.

A baffled look overrode his expression “You don’t think you’re noisy?” She had to be joking, he’d never met anyone louder than her, he doubted he ever would.

“Ah-ha, so you do think I’m noisy” Zoya pointed to his chest as she spoke, all while trying to free her other hand from his grasp. “Well, listen here, Mister, I am only noisy when I am around you, so really it’s your fault, uh-huh, take that” offering him a self-satisfied look, she rolled her eyes.

“So, what you’re saying is” he stepped forward so she would step back, “That you’re only loud for me?” He continued his steps, the corner of his lips curling when she turned her head over her shoulder, tripped over her feet and fell back onto the spare room’s bed. “Aren’t I a lucky man?” Aaditya stood over her, the spicy scent of his aftershave wrapping around her shivering body a little more when he bent down so his nose was an inch from hers.

Pushing her palms into the soft duvet, she held his stare “Does it make you feel lucky?” She wasn’t really sure why she asked or what she was hoping to gain, all she knew was that the words came more from her heart than her head, not that her head was much use in any situation, anyway.

“You make me feel lucky, Munchkin” he stroked her cheek. “I am not a lucky man until I’m with you” catching himself, he stepped back, her earlier words sending daggers to his heart. “I shouldn’t have come to see you, but I am a selfish man and I don’t like staying away from you, but I’m trying, I’m trying to respect your wishes” he wouldn’t tell her how each minute was agony and how each hour was torture, that wasn’t her problem or her burden to take, it was his and his alone, for her he’d deal with anything as long as it made her happy.

Her face paled “Is, is that why you disappeared for a week?” Rising to her feet, she went to place her hand on his shoulder, thought better of it and placed it on her own instead, to scratch an itch that wasn’t there. “Aditya” her tone was sad, “I didn’t mean to make you leave, your family is here, your friends too, I cry if I stay away from home for more than three days” she laughed uncomfortably at her own honesty, “So it must have been hard for you when you left before” she cleared her throat, hoping it would clear away her pain at this being the second time he’d left without saying goodbye. It wasn’t that she wanted to mean something to him, it was just that she would have said goodbye to him, yet he never offered her the same courtesy. “Sometimes when I feel homesick I watch the stars” she took his hand, leading him to the window “No matter where you are, the stars you see will be the stars they see too, if you look close enough you can imagine the stars are their eyes, they sparkle just the same”.

Turning to her, he smiled sadly “None of those will ever shine as bright as you, Munchkin” tracing her jaw bone, his Adam’s apple bobbed at the way her eyes fluttered shut, leaning into her, he pressed his lips to her forehead “I appreciate the pyjamas” he winked.

Pulling away, she stuttered over her words, confusion marring her forehead, creating lines that weren’t there before “What?”

“Did you not call me the Devil before? I take your clothing as tribute” he pulled her closer by her t-shirt “Cute” his eyes ran down her body slowly as if undressing her mentally, only for the desire to cover her once more with his own body to consume his every breath.

Before she could think of a response that didn’t leave her a babbling fool, the door swung open to show Karan, his hair a tousled disarray of black, his eyes just as dark and his lips in a frown “Zoya, whatever are you doing meeting my brother so late?”

Aditya stepped before her, shielding her sight with his built figure “What are you doing here so late?” He retorted, thoughts of his possible motivations making him dizzy.

“Ma wants you home, I thought you’d be here” he shrugged.

Shaking his head, he turned back to her “Next time lock your door” he cautioned, then he was following his older brother out the doorway.

Zoya looked up from her hands “This isn’t my door” she shouted, not expecting to get a response.

His head popped around the corner “Oh, I know which one your door is”.

“What, what is that meant to mean?”

He shook his head “It means whatever you want it to mean, but I won’t come in unless you ask me to, just” he paused, “Just don’t invite anyone else in either” he hoped she would heed his words.

“Bossy boots” she glowered his way. “I don’t listen to orders” her arms crossed, “I do what I want” her chin was high, back stiff.

“Then I hope what you want to do one day is me” then he was truly gone, leaving her jaw on the floor and her throat dry.

Im so soft for these two idiots, man! Apologies for the late as update, as you may or may not know I have a book soon being published, so I'm working on that:)